ADM: Thank you, we have a great team and a unique business model that makes us what we are.

As for the ICT industry, it is constantly changing and at the same time offering new opportunities. First, we had the mini computers, followed by client-server systems, then the Internet and now we have Cloud.  I predict we will see winners and losers come out of Cloud computing, and that many of the current incumbents will not succeed in this new world. We see Cloud as a game changer similar to relational databases or even the PC. TechnologyOne is very focused on Cloud and we are investing a large percentage of our R&D into Cloud computing which we will be unveiling at  our user conference in February next year. Each year we spend about 20% of revenue on R&D, which is huge because we run a unique business model where we develop everything in our own way with our own resources in-house.  We also market, sell, implement and support our own software. This model makes us a one-stop-shop without finger pointing between the developers and the system integrators, for example. It gives us unique control and accountability towards our customers.  Customer relationship and satisfaction is the key to TechnologyOne’s success. 

Q: How did AIIA membership benefit TechnologyOne over the years?

ADM: TechnologyOne has been a strong and passionate supporter of the AIIA for many years. AIIA has been a strong industry representative working with the federal government and helped us when significant issues arouse at the Federal level. More recently, there have been important wins in the states as well, e.g. AIIA addressing the Victorian eServices panel tender situation, and recommending changes to the ICT procurement process in New South Wales which were subsequently taken on board. 

Q: What other causes would you like to see AIIA become involved in?

ADM: Naturally, we are interested in more favourable R&D tax concessions even though we recognise the AIIA has already successfully worked with the government when the entire scheme was potentially put at risk. And, we would like to see greater IT supplier diversity in the state government sector with a move to multi supplier panel period contracts rather than a single whole of government supplier, which I believe favours multinationals, erodes competition and leads to less choice for individual departments.